Madhya25.1

TEXT 1

vaisnavi-krtya sannyasi-

mukhan kasi-nivasinah

sanatanam susamskrtya

prabhur niladrim agamat

SYNONYMS

vaisnavi-krtya—making into Vaisnavas; sannyasi-mukhan—headed by the sannyasis; kasi-nivasinah—the residents of Varanasi; sanatanam—Sanatana Gosvami; su-samskrtya—completely purifying; prabhuh—Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; niladrim—to Jagannatha Puri; agamat—returned.

TRANSLATION

After converting into Vaisnavas all the residents of Varanasi, who were headed by the sannyasis, and after completely educating and instructing Sanatana Gosvami at Varanasi, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned to Jagannatha Puri.

Madhya25.2

TEXT 2

jaya jaya sri-caitanya jaya nityananda

jayadvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda

SYNONYMS

jaya jaya—all glories; sri-caitanya—to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; jaya—all glories; nityananda—to Nityananda Prabhu; jaya—all glories; advaita-candra—to Advaita Prabhu; jaya—all glories; gaura-bhakta-vrnda—to the devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

TRANSLATION

All glories to Lord Caitanya! All glories to Lord Nityananda! All glories to Advaitacandra! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya!

Madhya25.3

TEXT 3

ei mata mahaprabhu dui masa paryanta

sikhaila tanre bhakti-siddhantera anta

SYNONYMS

ei mata—in this way; mahaprabhu—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; dui masa paryanta—for two months; sikhaila—instructed; tanre—him; bhakti-siddhantera anta—all the conclusions of devotional service.

TRANSLATION

Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed Sri Sanatana Gosvami in all the conclusions of devotional service for two consecutive months.

Madhya25.4

TEXT 4

’paramananda kirtaniya’-sekharera sangi

prabhure kirtana sunaya, ati bada rangi

SYNONYMS

paramananda kirtaniya—Paramananda Kirtaniya; sekharera sangi—a friend of Candrasekhara’s; prabhure—unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kirtana sunaya—sings and chants; ati bada rangi—very humorous.

TRANSLATION

For as long as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was in Varanasi, Paramananda Kirtaniya, who was a friend of Candrasekhara’s, chanted the Hare Krsna maha-mantra and other songs to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in a very humorous way.

Madhya25.5

TEXT 5

sannyasira gana prabhure yadi upeksila

bhakta-duhkha khandaite tare krpa kaila

SYNONYMS

sannyasira gana—all the sannyasis; prabhure—Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yadi—when; upeksila—criticized; bhakta-duhkha—the unhappiness of the devotees; khandaite—to drive away; tare—to them; krpa kaila—showed His mercy.

TRANSLATION

When the Mayavadi sannyasis at Varanasi criticized Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Lord’s devotees became very depressed. To satisfy them, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu showed His mercy to the sannyasis.

Madhya25.6

TEXT 6

sannyasire krpa purve likhiyachon vistariya

uddese kahiye ihan sanksepa kariya

SYNONYMS

sannyasire krpa—mercy upon the sannyasis; purve—before this; likhiyachon—I have described; vistariya—elaborately; uddese—in reference to that; kahiye—let me speak; ihan—here; sanksepa kariya—in brief.

TRANSLATION

In the Seventh Chapter of Adi-lila I have already elaborately described Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s deliverance of the sannyasis at Varanasi, but I shall briefly repeat it in this chapter.

Madhya25.7

TEXT 7

yahan tahan prabhura ninda kare sannyasira gana

suni’ duhkhe maharastriya vipra karaye cintana

SYNONYMS

yahan tahan—anywhere and everywhere; prabhura ninda—criticism of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kare—do; sannyasira gana—the Mayavadi sannyasis; suni’-hearing; duhkhe—in great unhappiness; maharastriya vipra—the brahmana of Maharastra province; karaye cintana—was contemplating.

TRANSLATION

When the Mayavadi sannyasis were criticizing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu anywhere and everywhere in Varanasi, the Maharastrian brahmana, hearing this blasphemy, began to think about this unhappily.

Madhya25.8

TEXT 8

"prabhura svabhava,-yeba dekhe sannidhane

’svarupa’ anubhavi’ tanre ’isvara’ kari’ mane

SYNONYMS

prabhura sva-bhava—the characteristics of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; yeba—anyone who; dekhe—sees; sannidhane—nearby; sva-rupa—His personality; anubhavi’-realizing; tanre—Him; isvara kari’-as the Supreme Lord; mane—accepts.

TRANSLATION

The Maharastrian brahmana thought, "Whoever closely sees the characteristics of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately realizes His personality and accepts Him as the Supreme Lord.

Madhya25.9

TEXT 9

kona prakare paron yadi ekatra karite

iha dekhi’ sannyasi-gana habe inhara bhakte

SYNONYMS

kona prakare—by some means; paron—I am able; yadi—if; ekatra karite—to assemble; iha dekhi’-by seeing this (Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s personal characteristics); sannyasi-gana—the Mayavadi sannyasis of Varanasi; habe—will become; inhara bhakte—His devotees.

TRANSLATION

"If by some means I can assemble all the sannyasis together, they will certainly become His devotees after seeing His personal characteristics.

PURPORT

Madhya25.10

TEXT 10

varanasi-vasa amara haya sarva-kale

sarva-kala duhkha paba, iha na karile"

SYNONYMS

varanasi-vasa—residence at Varanasi; amara—my; haya—there is; sarva-kale—always; sarva-kala—always; duhkha paba—I will suffer unhappiness; iha—this; na karile—if I do not execute.

TRANSLATION

“I shall have to reside at Varanasi the rest of my life. If I do not try to carry out this plan, I shall certainly continue to suffer mental depression.”

Madhya25.11

TEXT 11

eta cinti’ nimantrila sannyasira gane

tabe sei vipra aila mahaprabhura sthane

SYNONYMS

eta cinti’—thinking this; nimantrila—he invited; sannyasira gane—all the sannyasis; tabe—then; sei vipra—that brahmana; aila—approached; mahaprabhura sthane—the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

TRANSLATION

Thinking like this, the Maharastrian brahmana extended an invitation to all the sannyasis of Varanasi. After doing this, he finally approached Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to extend Him an invitation.

Madhya25.12

TEXT 12

hena-kale ninda suni’ sekhara, tapana

duhkha pana prabhu-pade kaila nivedana

SYNONYMS

hena-kale—exactly at this time; ninda suni’-by hearing the criticism (of Lord Caitanya by the Mayavadi sannyasis); sekhara tapana—Candrasekhara and Tapana Misra; duhkha pana—feeling very unhappy; prabhu-pade—unto the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kaila nivedana—submitted a request.

TRANSLATION

At this time, Candrasekhara and Tapana Misra both heard blasphemous criticism against Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and felt very unhappy. They came to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s lotus feet to submit a request.

Madhya25.13

TEXT 13

bhakta-duhkha dekhi’ prabhu manete cintila

sannyasira mana phiraite mana ha-ila

SYNONYMS

bhakta-duhkha dekhi’-seeing the unhappiness of the devotees; prabhu—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; manete cintila—considered within His mind; sannyasira mana—the minds of the Mayavadi sannyasis; phiraite—to turn; mana ha-ila—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu decided.

TRANSLATION

They submitted their request, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, seeing His devotees’ unhappiness, decided to turn the minds of the Mayavadi sannyasis.

Madhya25.14

TEXT 14

hena-kale vipra asi’ karila nimantrana

aneka dainyadi kari’ dharila carana

SYNONYMS

hena-kale—at this time; vipra—the Maharastrian brahmana; asi’-coming; karila nimantrana—invited Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; aneka—various; dainya-adi—submissions; kari’-doing; dharila carana—touched His lotus feet.

TRANSLATION

While Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was seriously considering meeting with the Mayavadi sannyasis, the Maharastrian brahmana approached Him and extended an invitation. The brahmana submitted his invitation with great humility, and he touched the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Madhya25.15

TEXT 15

tabe mahaprabhu tanra nimantrana manila

ara dina madhyahna kari’ tanra ghare gela

SYNONYMS

tabe—after this; mahaprabhu—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanra—his; nimantrana—invitation; manila—accepted; ara dina—the next day; madhyahna kari’-after finishing His madhyahna activities (taking bath and murmuring mantras); tanra ghare gela—He went to the house of the Maharastrian brahmana.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted his invitation, and the next day, after finishing His noontime activities, He went to the brahmana’s house.

Madhya25.16

TEXT 16

tahan yaiche kaila prabhu sannyasira nistara

panca-tattvakhyane taha kariyachi vistara

SYNONYMS

tahan—there; yaiche—how; kaila—performed; prabhu—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sannyasira—of the Mayavadi sannyasis; nistara—deliverance; panca-tattva-akhyane—in describing the glories of the Panca-tattva (Sri Krsna Caitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Gadadhara and Srivasa); taha—that subject matter; kariyachi vistara—have described elaborately.

TRANSLATION

I have already described Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s deliverance of the Mayavadi sannyasis in the Seventh Chapter when I described the glories of the Panca-tattva-Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu, Gadadhara Prabhu and Srivasa.

Madhya25.17

TEXT 17

grantha bade, punarukti haya ta’ kathana

tahan ye na likhilun, taha kariye likhana

SYNONYMS

grantha—the size of the book; bade—increases; punah-ukti—repetition; haya—would be; ta’ kathana—of subject matters once described; tahan—there (in the Seventh Chapter); ye—whatever; na likhilun—I have not described; taha—that; kariye likhana—I am writing.

TRANSLATION

Since I have already described this incident very elaborately in the Seventh Chapter of Adi-lila, I do not wish to increase the size of this book by giving another description. However, I shall try to include in this chapter whatever was not described there.

Madhya25.18

TEXT 18

ye divasa prabhu sannyasire krpa kaila

se divasa haite grame kolahala haila

SYNONYMS

ye divasa—the day when; prabhu—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sannyasire—to the Mayavadi sannyasis; krpa kaila—showed His mercy; se divasa haite—beginning from that day; grame—in the locality; kolahala haila—there were many talks about this incident.

TRANSLATION

Beginning from the day on which Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu showed His mercy to the Mayavadi sannyasis, there were vivid discussions about this conversion among the inhabitants of Varanasi.

Madhya25.19

TEXT 19

lokera sanghatta aise prabhure dekhite

nana sastre pandita aise sastra vicarite

SYNONYMS

lokera sanghatta—crowds of men; aise—come; prabhure dekhite—to see Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; nana sastre pandita—scholars learned in various scriptures; aise—used to come; sastra vicarite—to talk on various scriptures.

TRANSLATION

Crowds of people came to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu from that day on, and scholars of various scriptures discussed different subject matters with the Lord.

Madhya25.20

TEXT 20

sarva-sastra khandi’ prabhu ’bhakti’ kare sara

sayuktika vakye mana phiraya sabara

SYNONYMS

sarva-sastra khandi’-defeating all the false conclusions of different scriptures; prabhu—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhakti kare sara—established the predominance of devotional service; sa-yuktika vakye—by talks full of pleasing logic and arguments; mana phiraya—turns the minds; sabara—of everyone.

TRANSLATION

When people came to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to discuss the principles of various scriptures, the Lord defeated their false conclusions and established the predominance of devotional service to the Lord. With logic and argument He very politely changed their minds.

PURPORT

We have been spreading this sankirtana movement in the Western countries, and in our recent tour of European cities like Rome, Geneva, Paris and Frankfurt, many learned Christian scholars, priests, philosophers and yogis came to see us, and by the grace of Krsna they agreed that this Krsna consciousness movement, the bhakti cult, offers the topmost conclusion. Following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, we are trying to convince everyone that the devotional service of the Lord is enjoined in every scripture. If a person is religious, he must accept the supreme authority of the Lord, become His devotee and try to love Him. This is the real principle of religion. It does not matter whether one is Christian, Mohammedan or whatever. He simply must accept the sublime position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and render service unto Him. It is not a question of being Christian, Mohammedan or Hindu. One should be purely religious and freed from all these material designations. In this way one can learn the art of devotional service. This argument appeals to all intelligent men, and consequently this Krsna consciousness movement is gaining ground throughout the world. Due to our solid logic and scientific presentation, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s prediction that Krsna consciousness will spread in every town and village throughout the world is gradually being realized.

Madhya25.21

TEXT 21

upadesa lana kare krsna-sankirtana

sarva-loka hase, gaya, karaye nartana

SYNONYMS

upadesa lana—getting instructions from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kare—join; krsna-sankirtana—the sankirtana movement; sarva-loka hase—everyone began to laugh in pleasure; gaya—chant; karaye nartana—and dance.

TRANSLATION

As soon as people received instructions from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they began to chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Thus everyone laughed, chanted and danced with the Lord.

Madhya25.22

TEXT 22

prabhure pranata haila sannyasira gana

atma-madhye gosthi kare chadi’ adhyayana

SYNONYMS

prabhure—unto Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; pranata haila—offered obeisances; sannyasira gana—all the Mayavadi sannyasis; atma-madhye—among themselves; gosthi kare—discussed; chadi’ adhyayana—giving up so-called studies of Vedanta.

TRANSLATION

All the Mayavadi sannyasis offered their obeisances unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and then began to discuss His movement, giving up their studies of Vedanta and Mayavada philosophy.

Madhya25.23

TEXT 23

prakasanandera sisya eka tanhara samana

sabha-madhye kahe prabhura kariya sammana

SYNONYMS

prakasanandera sisya eka—one of the disciples of Prakasananda Sarasvati; tanhara samana—equal in learning with Prakasananda Sarasvati; sabha-madhye—in the assembly of the sannyasis; kahe—explains; prabhura kariya sammana—respecting Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu seriously.

TRANSLATION

One of the disciples of Prakasananda Sarasvati, who was as learned as his guru, began to speak in that assembly, offering all respects to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Madhya25.24

TEXT 24

sri-krsna-caitanya haya ’saksat narayana’

’vyasa-sutrera’ artha karena ati-manorama

SYNONYMS

sri-krsna-caitanya—Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu; haya—is; saksat narayana—directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana; vyasa-sutrera—the codes of Vyasadeva (Vedanta-sutra); artha karena—He explains; ati-manorama—very nicely.

TRANSLATION

He said, "Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana Himself. When He explains the Vedanta-sutra, He does so very nicely.

Madhya25.25

TEXT 25

upanisadera karena mukhyartha vyakhyana

suniya pandita-lokera judaya mana-kana

SYNONYMS

upanisadera—of the Vedic version known as the Upanisads; karena—He does; mukhya-artha—the original meaning; vyakhyana—explanation; suniya—hearing; pandita-lokera—of the learned scholars; judaya—satisfies; mana-kana—the minds and ears.

TRANSLATION

"Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu explains the direct meaning of the Upanisads. When all learned scholars hear this, their minds and ears are satisfied.

Madhya25.26

TEXT 26

sutra-upanisadera mukhyartha chadiya

acarya ’kalpana’ kare agraha kariya

SYNONYMS

sutra-upanisadera—of the Vedanta-sutra and the Upanisads; mukhya-artha—the direct meaning; chadiya—giving up; acarya—Sankaracarya; kalpana—imagination; kare—does; agraha kariya—with great eagerness.

TRANSLATION

"Giving up the direct meaning of the Vedanta-sutra and the Upanisads, Sankaracarya imagines some other interpretation.

Madhya25.27

TEXT 27

acarya-kalpita artha ye pandita sune

mukhe ’haya’ ’haya’ kare, hrdaya na mane

SYNONYMS

acarya-kalpita—imagined by Sankaracarya; artha—meaning; ye pandita sune—any learned person who hears; mukhe—only in the mouth; haya haya—yes it is, yes it is; kare—does; hrdaya—his heart; na mane—does not accept.

TRANSLATION

"All the interpretations of Sankaracarya are imaginary. Such imaginary interpretations are verbally accepted by learned scholars, but they do not appeal to the heart.

Madhya25.28

TEXT 28

sri-krsna-caitanya-vakya drdha satya mani

kali-kale sannyase ’samsara’ nahi jini

SYNONYMS

sri-krsna-caitanya-vakya—the words of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; drdha—very firm and convincing; satya mani—I admit as truth; kali-kale—in this Age of Kali; sannyase—simply by accepting the renounced order of life; samsara nahi jini—one cannot escape the material clutches.

TRANSLATION

"The words of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu are firm and convincing, and I accept them as true. In this Age of Kali, one cannot be delivered from material clutches simply by formally accepting the renounced order.

Madhya25.29

TEXT 29

harer nama-slokera yei karila vyakhyana

sei satya sukhadartha parama pramana

SYNONYMS

harer nama-slokera—of the verse beginning harer nama harer nama; yei—whatever; karila—made; vyakhyana—the explanation; sei—that; satya—true; sukha-da-artha—a meaning that is pleasing to accept; parama pramana—the supreme evidence.

TRANSLATION

"Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s explanation of the verse beginning ’harer nama harer nama’ is not only pleasing to the ear but is strong, factual evidence.

Madhya25.30

TEXT 30

bhakti vina mukti nahe, bhagavate kaya

kali-kale namabhase sukhe mukti haya

SYNONYMS

bhakti vina—without devotional service; mukti nahe—there is no question of liberation; bhagavate kaya—it is said in Srimad-Bhagavatam; kali-kale—in this Age of Kali; nama-abhase—even by a slight appreciation of the Hare Krsna mantra; sukhe—without difficulty; mukti haya—one can get liberation.

TRANSLATION

"In this Age of Kali, one cannot attain liberation without taking to the devotional service of the Lord. In this age, even if one does not chant the holy name of Krsna perfectly, he still attains liberation very easily.

Madhya25.31

TEXT 31

sreyah-srtim bhaktim udasya te vibho

klisyanti ye kevala-bodha-labdhaye

tesam asau klesala eva sisyate

nanyad yatha sthula-tusavaghatinam

SYNONYMS

sreyah-srtim—the auspicious path of liberation; bhaktim—devotional service; udasya—giving up; te—of You; vibho—O my Lord; klisyanti—accept increased difficulties; ye—all those persons who; kevala—only; bodha-labdhaye—for obtaining knowledge; tesam—for them; asau—that; klesalah—trouble; eva—only; sisyate—remains; na—not; anyat—anything else; yatha—as much as; sthula—bulky; tusa—husks of rice; avaghatinam—of those beating.

TRANSLATION

" ’My dear Lord, devotional service unto You is the only auspicious path. If one gives it up simply for speculative knowledge or the understanding that these living beings are spirit soul and the material world is false, he undergoes a great deal of trouble. He only gains troublesome and inauspicious activities. His actions are like beating a husk that is already devoid of rice. One’s labor becomes fruitless.’

PURPORT

This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.4).

Madhya25.32

TEXT 32

ye ’nye ’ravindaksa vimukta-maninas

tvayy asta-bhavad avisuddha-buddhayah

aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah

patanty adho ’nadrta-yusmad-anghrayah

SYNONYMS

ye—all those who; anye—others (nondevotees); aravinda-aksa—O lotus-eyed one; vimukta-maninah—who consider themselves liberated; tvayi—unto You; asta-bhavat—without devotion; avisuddha-buddhayah—whose intelligence is not purified; aruhya—having ascended; krcchrena—by severe austerities and penances; param padam—to the supreme position; tatah—from there; patanti—fall; adhah—down; anadrta—without respecting; yusmat—Your;                              anghrayah—lotus feet.

TRANSLATION

" ’O lotus-eyed one, those who think they are liberated in this life but who are devoid of devotional service to You are of impure intelligence. Although they accept severe austerities and penances and rise to the spiritual position, to impersonal Brahman realization, they fall down again because they neglect to worship Your lotus feet.’

PURPORT

This is a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.2.32).

Madhya25.33

TEXT 33

’brahma’-sabde kahe ’sad-aisvarya-purna bhagavan’

tanre ’nirvisesa’ sthapi, ’purnata’ haya hana

SYNONYMS

brahma-sabde—by the word brahma; kahe—is meant; sat-aisvarya-purna bhagavan—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, full in all six opulences; tanre—Him; nirvisesa sthapi—if we make impersonal; purnata haya hana—His completeness becomes damaged.

TRANSLATION

"The word Brahman means ’the greatest.’ This means that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is full in all six opulences. However, if we take the one-sided impersonalist view, His fullness is diminished.

PURPORT